Hi there, Tara!
Celebrating a birthday at Walt Disney World Resort is absolutely magical. I am so glad your son will get to experience it for such a milestone year. Be sure
to add the celebration to your reservation and pick up a 'Happy Birthday' button from Guest Services or any Front Desk location so that he can receive well wishes all day long! I celebrated my 30th birthday in
Magic Kingdom Park, and because I proudly wore the celebration button, I was treated to an impromptu and (slightly off-key) 'Happy Birthday' serenade from our
Jungle Cruise skipper as we disembarked.
I always say that I'm happiest on Main Street, U.S.A. The sight of a Cast Member holding a bundle of colorful balloons with Cinderella Castle shining in the distance lets me know I'm home. Having an iconic Mickey Mouse balloon in your photos will add such a magical touch, so I contacted a helpful Cast Member for the most up-to-date information. He shared that since balloons are sold by a third-party vendor and their sale is contingent upon certain extenuating factors such as weather, wind, and delivery, there is no guarantee of the exact time sales will begin each day at Magic Kingdom Park. If you would like to ensure that your son is able to have a balloon featured in his
Capture Your Moment photo session, I suggest purchasing a balloon the evening before the session and bringing it with you into Magic Kingdom the next morning. I confirmed with the Cast Member that balloons are regularly sold in Magic Kingdom on Main Street, U.S.A.,
Disney's Hollywood Studios on or around Hollywood Boulevard, and
Disney Springs in the vicinity of Town Center. Of course, as previously mentioned, because the sale is contingent upon certain factors there is no guarantee of their appearance on any given day, so I'll be thinking the happiest of thoughts for your son on his special day.
A couple of bonus tips:
- Did you know that Walt Disney World Resort balloons can be replaced if they pop during your trip? All you have to do is bring the deflated balloon to a Cast Member for an exchange.
- Guests can have celebration buttons personalized by an artist at
Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square. Because this comes with a small fee (similar to what you would be charged to add personalization to an ornament), I only choose to honor my extra-special celebrations in this way. There might be a wait, so I suggest dropping by early in the day to ensure you are at the top of the personalization list.
I hope your son's birthday is full of magical memories for your entire family, Tara! Feel free to
stop by back with any additional questions that arise before your vacation.
Cheers to 2024,
Lizzie